United chief executive Ed Woodward said yesterday: "We are now focused on bringing in a manager and expect an announcement in due course.

"Everyone at the club is working hard to ensure the team is back challenging for the title and trophies next season."

Van Gaal has worked at some of the biggest clubs on the planet following successful stints with Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

This summer he will attempt to land the only silverware still missing from his impressive CV when he leads Holland at the World Cup in Brazil.

But it looks like Van Gaal has left the biggest challenge of his managerial career until last as he gets set to take the reins at Old Trafford.

Van Gaal will take charge of the United squad for the first time when the club embark on their summer tour of the United States in July.

But he will be walking into a club still in turmoil and shock from events of the last 12 months that resulted in a staggering fall from grace for the former English champions.

FALL FROM GRACE: United have endured a miserable 12 months on the pitch since winning the Premier League in 2013 [GETTY]

United finished seventh in the table following their worst season in almost 25 years and will not be competing in Europe at all next time round - let alone in the Champions League.

Van Gaal will also inherit a squad low on confidence and self-belief, without a captain and in desperate need of world class quality being added to it.

But there will be no time for Van Gaal to ease his way in gently after Woodward made it clear what the club will be demanding next season.

Woodward faced the uncomfortable task of having to address the club's major worldwide investors in a conference call from his Mayfair office in London yesterday.

And he added: "The 2013-14 season we finished a very disappointing seventh which means we will not play European football season.

"Be assured everyone at the club is working to ensure next season is to the top standards of Manchester United.

UNDER PRESSURE: United executives are desperate to appease shareholders with a revival in the club's fortunes [GETTY]

"The club's expectations - and you will see this reflected in the transfer market and what we have recently done from a managerial perspective - are absolutely to get back into the Champions League."

“"The club's expectations - and you will see this reflected in the transfer market..are absolutely to get back into the Champions League”

Ed Woodward

United's failure to finish in the top four will cost them more than £30m in lost revenue, but Woodward insists this will not affect their transfer business this summer.

United will kick-off a summer of huge change with the capture of new England sensation Luke Shaw in a £30m deal before the end of this month and Woodward added: "Due to the television deals, we estimate our loss of European football will cost us around £30m.

"But we will be active in the transfer market and deals will be done."